Photographer&#39;s multi flash lamp



June 17, 1958 Filed Sept. '7, 1954 S. CANNELLA PHOTOGRAPHERS MULTI FLASH LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .571: v1: CHNNELLH firrozwey June 17, 1958 s. CANNELLA PHOTOGRAPHER'S MULTI FLASH LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. '7, 1954 L a Wm WW 0 5 M m u% 5 Y B an F United States Patent 6 Steve Qanuelia, New York, N. Y.

2 (fil. 240-13) To overcome the aforesaid disadvantages, a battery operated flash lamp or gun attachment has been developed. These flash guns are expensive and beyond the reach of the average camera owner. Furthermore, such attachments are bulky and relatively heavy.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro- I vide a photo-flash bulb device which eliminates the need for ejection and replacement of a bulb after each picture is taken, thus, enabling the photographing of events or scenes in rapid sequence.

Another object of this invention is to provide a photofiash bulb gun by which stroboscopic type of photographs may be taken.

Another object of this invention is to produce a photoflash gun which is of simple construction and relatively light in weight.

A feature of the present invention is the pivotally supported arcuate plate which carries a multiplicity of flash bulbs for sequential illumination.

Another feature or" the present invention is its adapter plate which permits the use of this invention with conventional cameras.

A further feature of the present invention is its indexing mechanism, which produces an automatic successive positioning of photo-flash bulbs.

A still further feature of the present invention is its battery contact switch which is closed by the action of the photo-flash bulb sockets as they are positioned for use.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a photo-flash lamp in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the photo-flash lamp shown in Figure l, with certain parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 33 of Figure 2, somewhat enlarged.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rear of the flash bulb lamp device, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary central section, taken on line 6 5 of Figure 5.

2,839,667 Patented June 17, 1958 Referring to the drawings, and specifically Figures 1 and 5, 7 indicates a photographic flash gun of a somewhat conventional structure, consisting of a cylindrical battery housing or holder 21, having secured adjacent the upper edge thereof, a reflector 26. Secured to the back of the flash gun 7, by means of a V-shaped bracket 19, is a somewhat arcuate support plate 10, formed of a series of flat portions 11.

Each fiat portion 11 is provided with a central opening 12. Within each opening 12 is an electrical socket member 15, adapted to receive therein a photo-fiashbulb 16. The socket members 15 may be internally threaded for bulbs having threaded stems, or may be provided with bayonet slots 17 to receive bulbs 16 having pins projecting from the stems. Each of the socket members 15 has an electrical contact member 18 which projects below the surface of the plate 10.

The support plate 10, as shown, is constructed to accommodate six bulbs 16, but may be so made that it will support more than or less than six bulbs, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The somewhat V-shaped bracket 19 is pivotally secured at its apex 24) to the cylindrical battery housing or holder 21, as hereinafter more fully described. The arms 22 and 23 of the bracket 19 are provided with inwardly bent end portions 24. To the end portions 24 is secured the support plate 1;}, as by spot-welding, soldering, or some other suitable means.

As aforesaid, the reflector 26 is positioned above the battery holder 21 and held by means of a bracket 27. One end of the bracket 27 is attached to the holder 21, as by rivets 28, and the reflector 26 is secured to the opposite end of the bracket 27 by rivets 29 (see Figure 2).

A switch assembly 30 is located at the top of the battery holder 21, as best shown in Figure 3. The switch assembly 30 comprises a housing 31 having a central opening 32, which is in register with a central hole 33 in the top wall 34 of the battery holder 21. Through the openings 32 and 34 is inserted a metal sleeve 35, about which is placed a dielectric sleeve 36. A contact pin 37 is disposed within the sleeve 35 and extends above the top of the housing 31.

To the upper end of the pin 37 is secured a contact plate 38. The lateral edges of the contact plate 38 are turned down at 38a, so as to permit the contact members 18 of the sockets 15 to freely slide across the contact plate 38. At the inner end of the pin 37 there is attached an electrical contact member 39. A coil spring 40 is disposed about the pin 37 between the plate 38 and the housing 31. The purpose of the spring 40 is to lift the pin 37 when one of the bulb socket members 15 is moved out of contact with the plate 38, thereby breaking electrical contact between the members 39 and 39a of the battery 41.

It is essential that the pin 37 only effects electrical contact with the batteries 41 when the bulbs are properly positioned in front of the reflector 26. The batteries 41 are prevented from following the contact pin 37, when it moves upwardly, by a retaining ring 42 secured within the battery holder 21.

At the end of the battery holder 21, opposite the switch 30, there is provided an adapter plate 43. The adapter plate 43 is secured to the end cap 44 of the battery holder 21 by a thumb screw 45 threaded therein (see Figures 1, 2 and 5). A second thumb screw 46 is employed at the free end of the plate 43. A conventional camera 47, shown in broken lines in Figure 1, is held to the plate 43 by the screw 46, which is threaded into the tripod socket of the camera.

The battery holder 21 is provided with the well known electrical contact mechanism (not shown). A shutter jacent battery. With a bulb 16 and its socket member 15, properly positioned upon the switch 30, the electrical circuit to the bulb is complete, except through the camera synchronizing contact mechanism attached to the holder 21 at 49.

Upon actuation of the camera shutter, the electrical contact mechanism closes the circuit from the batteries 41, through the pin 37 and the plate 38 of the switch 30, to the socket and bulb 16. Thereafter, the circuit is completed through the plate 10 and bracket arms 23 to the battery holder 21 and cap 44, and in turn to the negative pole of the battery.

The structure, as above described, may be made to index each bulb 16 upon the switch 30, by manual rotation of the bracket 19 about its pivot point 20. However, to provide for automatic indexing, a spring member 52 and a release mechanism 53 is incorporated in the structure, as hereafter fully described.

A tension spring 52 is anchored at one end of the arm 22 of the bracket 19, and at the opposite end to a pin 54 secured to the upper part of the battery holder 21. Movement of the bracket 19, against the force exerted by the spring 52, is prevented by action of the mechanism 53, as will become apparent hereinafter.

The indexing mechanism 53 comprises a segmental ratchet 55, having teeth 56 corresponding in number to the number of stations or bulbs 16, best shown in Figure 5. The ratchet 55 is welded, or otherwise attached to the apex portion of the bracket 19. An arcuate plate 57 is riveted to the battery holder 21 to add body and rigidity to the holder 21, which may be constructed of sheet metal. A pivot 58 is threadably received within a bore 57a, best shown in Figures 4 and 6. The ratchet 55 and the bracket 19 at its apex portion 20, are provided with registered holes adapted to receive therethrough the pivot pin 58. The pivot pin 58 has an axial hole threaded to receive a retaining screw 60. The oversized head of the screw 61) prevents the bracket 19 and the ratchet carried by the bracket 19 from slipping from the pivot pin 58.

A finger-actuated pawl member 61 is mounted below the ratchet 55. The pawl 61 is slidably carried in a housing 62. The pawl 61 is substantially L-shaped, thereby providing a vertical and a horizontal leg. In

the housing 62 is an elongated vertical slot 63, through I A comwhich the horizontal leg of the pawl projects. pression spring 64 in the housing 62 bears against the pawl 61 to urge the vertical leg of the pawl 61 in positive engagement with the ratchet 55. An elongated slot 65 is provided in the vertical leg of the pawl 61, through which is thrust a pin 66. The pin 66 is secured within the housing 62 and provides a guide for the pawl 61 during its vertical travel.

Inthe operation of the entire assembly, disclosed herein, the bulbs 16 are inserted in the sockets 15, and the supporting plate 10 is positioned, as shown in Figure 1. The shutter cable 47 is connected to the camera 46. After the first photograph is taken, the horizontal leg of the pawl 61 is depressed against the tension of the spring 64. This action disengages the pawl 61 from the ratchet 55, thereby allowing the spring 52 to move the bracket 19 about the pivot pin 58. If it is desired to index one station or bulb 16, the horizontal leg of the pawl 61 is depressed and quickly released. The ratchet 55, by quickly releasing the pawl 61 after depression, is only permitted to move one tooth, and therefore one station.

In the taking of a multiplicity of exposures of the stroboscopic type, the pawl 61 is depressed and held down until the supporting plate 10 has been carried through its full travel. With the camera shutter open, as each bulb 16 rides upon the plate 38 of the switch 30, electrical contact is made through to the bulbs 16, causing them to illuminate the scene.

From the foregoing description, it can readily be seen that a candid camera photo-flash bulb attachment has been provided, which is capable of taking a multiplicity of photo-flash photographs, without the necessity of changing bulbs. It is a device readily adapted to conventional cameras. In addition, fabrication of the device is simple and inexpensive.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A multiple flash-bulb flash gun for attachment to a photographic camera comprising, a battery case, a battery within said case, a reflector secured to the upper rear portion of said case, a swingable bracket member secured to the case at a point spaced from the bottom thereof and extending upwardly toward the top of the case, an arcuate plate carried upon the free end of the bracket so as to overlie the top of the battery case, a plurality of spaced socket members secured to the arcuate plate, said sockets being disposed with their longitudinal axes normal to the upper face of the plate and extending below the plate in the direction of the case, a switch secured to the top of the case and underlying the plate sockets, means for pivotally shifting the bracket to bring the sockets into successive contact with the switch, a plurality of flash bulbs in said sockets and a synchronizing cable attached to the battery case and connected to the battery.

2. An article according to claim 1 in which the switch consists of a housing, a contact pin slidably mounted within the housing, and extending outwardly from said housing, a contact plate secured to the end of the extended portion of the pin and normal thereto, a terminal on the inner end of the pin for engagement with the battery, and a coil spring surrounding the pin and disposed between the-plate and housing to normally urge the pin away from contact with the said battery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,750 Courson Dec. 9, 1913 2,097,250 Keith Oct. 26, 1937 2,113,273 Leach Apr. 5, 1938 2,245,707 Packer June 17, 1941 2,404,970 Magdsick July 30, 1946 2,408,469 Malloy Oct. 1, 1946 2,485,403 Noel et a1. Oct. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 848,012 Germany Sept. 1, 1952 

